THE DAIRY INDUSTRY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 20 June 1907, Page 2

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY

SPEECH liV HON. AIcNAJJ. SOME IMPORTANT PROPOSALS. ! (i.y Telegraph.—From Our Special Reporter.) Palinerston N., June 1!). Tin' lion. JlcNal), Minister for Lands, addressed to-day, on practical subjects, probably tho must representative meeting o; fanners interested in the dairy industry ever assembled together in the eolony. There were over 200 present, a very largo percentage being from 'l'aranaki. lie explained that lie would deal with t!:,.' work being done in connection with dairy matters by the department, stating that through liiisiuulcrstiiniling lie hail l i'cn put down by t he I'lcss to speak oil a subject which he never intended to. lie commented on the false opinion .somelinn's arising between lanuers and lliti Department during tile turmoil of political campaigns, hut there was no politics 01. this occasion, and he wished to explain thoroughly the Department's policy. This was the lirut opportunity

he had had to address so representative a. meeting of the industry, lie hail read with interest the subjects discussed, by the Dairy Association, and said none would be lost sight of. The dairy industry involved harder toil than any other in the colony, and the Agricultural Department was the hardest of all to work. Regarding EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS and scnooi iiislrueuou, all provision had been made to start, but, in view of Mr. singletons visit to the Old World, the Government wisely decided to await his renin; wilh tile latest iufuiniation. Regarding the CLEAN MILK QUESTION, it was the most urgent requirement of Hie industry. At' llie last meeting of ihe Cabinet it was decided to give film ihe sole control of the niiilc supply from end lo end of the colony. It was also decided that the industry itself should not be loaded with the cost, but should be paid out of Consolidated Revenue. The estimated cost was dulii,ooO per annum. (Applause.) The charge for the registration of dairies would be merely nominal, so there would be no harassing taxation. With regard to appointment of inspecting officers, he announced that political consideration would not weigh with him in making appointments. (Applause.) They would be selected solely on qualification, and report from his ollieers aa to their ability. Respecting the necessary regulations and duties of inspectors, he was of opinion that for the Jirst year or two they would run along the lines of moral suasion, and only after that time would the regulations be harshly enforced, if necessary, against producers. Probably they would not have the registration of dairies enforced next season, but he hoped to get as many inspectors as possible appointed, INSPECTION IN THE OLD COUNTRY.

He staled that he had received recently

two cables from London, one stating that some butter contained great excess of moisture and the other contained large excess of foreign fats. He formed the opinion that influences were at work when our butter reached home, branding it with names it does not deserve. It was necessary therefore to ha\3 ail ollicer at that, end and his proposal was that one of the colony's graders should lie sent to England for a term of not less than two years, and then replaced in turn by oilier graders. (Applause.) These men, knowing thoroughly the condition of butter in this colony, would settle the question whether butter deteriorated 011 the voyage; they also would settle liow foreign fats got into our butter. The Government's opinion was that fats got in after butter reached England. The same idea would be put in operation with regard to the meat industry. He went on to explain what was | being done at the

LEVIN EXPERIMENTAL FARM i'or the good of the dairy industry. Its great object was to raise the milk producing capacity of tlie herds of the colony, and he quoted figures concerning improvements effected in Levin herds during the last four years. Nothing hud been done that could not be accomplished by any ordinary dairy farmer in the I colony. The farm was aiming at raising a herd that produced on aji average ten thousand pounds weight of milk or more in the season. During the four years the average production per cow bad been ruined from '!U!.:-t7 to BO'.Uiii - per - COW, whereas last year 12 cows in the herd averaged 10,000 pounds of milk in the season. This year it was expected that i!! cows would average tlitil amount. He quoted further figures proving that the

average amount of milk and iaittcr fat per head hud been more than doubled at the farm in four years. There were hundreds and thousands of eows in this eolnny not, paying for taking milk from them; not even paying for the grass they eat. "What can be done by us as

;i community to about a bettor result? When wo got ono herd, then wo lmvc the necessary nucleus." Scarcely any of the Government's animals, ho continued are pure bred. They wanted to pet pure bred strains; so that they would then have pure bred strains to soil to farmers. They would soon 1)6 able to supply the cows. He proposed sending to the best-known milking strains in the world, and get a fair supply of these. They would be bought on the milk average pedigree, ami be procured from throe or four of the world's leading herds. He announced that he had accepted an oiler from a gentleman to present tho ({oveniT.ent with the nucleus of one herd from the finest milking strain of Shorthorns in the "world at a cost of

.€IOOO. (Applause.) Tie proposed getting the Department's officers to select these, and to get the Government to carry them out free. Thus the whole amount would be available for the put*ohnfie. ITe hoped to get similar donations from other wealthy gentlemen.

lilißT STRAINS OF COWS. When the Department had three of the best strains ill the colony at Levin he would be aliie to supply the purest strains procurable to farmers according lo the breed wanted. When the time came he believed there would be an enormous development in the industry, enabling the farmers to pay the rents demanded and also better wages. None ciaild deny that the poorest wages were paid to those engaged in the dairying Industry, but it was not the farmers' fault, as tliey were paying what they could afford. 'liefore sitting down, lie thanked the Association for the opportunity of I speaking at tie- meeting. He impressed on fanners that tiie ollicers of the Department and himself wished to know the farmers' requirements, and to help them. That was what the Department existed for, and lie hoped no farmer would hesitate to write io him or the Department, 110 matter what branch of th<- industry he was engaged in. He wanted them not to forget the Department was at their service. He concluded amidst applause.

in reply to a number of questions, he said the average lest at Levin was 3.0 to U.S. Regarding tuberculosis, the policy of the Department was to remove the cause of disease, whether paying full or half compensation. That was only a stop-gap for the present. There was, he said, too often a desire by some to put the whole of the burden of the diseased stock on (he Government.

Morton (Mmigovci), in moving u vote of thanks, said it was the first time in the history of the Association that si member of the Crown hail addressed them on practical subjects. It had been a jrrcal pleasure to hear what was i»'oln<r (u bo done at Levin for the future of tho industry, AH fanners would )»• "Tiililiod (o hear Mr. MeNub's iiHcntion to send Ji<niie :i dairy expert. He endorsed the proposal to send graders ioi' terms of two years. The fanners Mip|iorled eleau milk proposals, and he was tflad to hear inspectors would be appointed regardless of political color. He expressed great pleasure with the Minister's frank assurance that Ihe Department and "Minister were I'ree to be approaehed by any fanner on any subjeet. That would increase the popularity of the Department, and would put fanners and the Minister and his oHieers on terms of eordiaiity. The address had be?!) most instructive and enjoyable. Mr. It. Dive (KlUiam) seconded. Ife thoroughly agreed with all said by Mr'. Morion, and trusted that Ihe fanners as a wholo would accept Mr. MeNab's inviIntioii to use his services, and gel from him thai, sympathy and friendly cooperation he was extending towards them. The vote was carried vociferonslv. The meeting wns one of the best" ever conducted i>ehveen farmers mid Minister of the Crown, Mr; MeNnL being on the best of terms with audience.